As the Patriots honor players from the franchise’s past, currant players can’t help but feel motivated.

Four players involved with the Patriots first ever Super Bowl win and the first AFC Championship win at Foxboro Stadium, over the Jacksonville Jaguars 15 years ago, have been selected as honorary captains. So far, wide receiver Troy Brown, cornerback Ty Law and linebacker Tedy Bruschi have been announced with one more being revealed tomorrow.

So what does it mean to have these legends of the Patriots past around?

“It’s very inspiring,” said linebacker Dane Fletcher. “They’re the guys were here before us. They left a legacy of a great franchise in those that they played. They had those three Super Bowls. It fires us up and makes you want to go out there and make your own legacy.”

“Yeah having guys like Troy Brown and everybody out there, you know, they brought a lot to this organization in the past with Super Bowl wins and everything else. Having them out there I guess reminds younger players like myself and a lot of other guys on this team what it’s all about," Julian Edelman added.

Of course both Brown and Bruschi were involved with all three of the Patriots Super Bowl wins. Seeing these guys around makes some of the younger players want to create their own legacy.

“I think that’s something that everybody wants, to make your little niche in the organization and kind of be remembered,” Fletcher said. “One of my coaches always said do you want to be soon forgotten or long remembered? And I kind of live by that.”